Rama Moondra

Cross cultural sensitivity is a major issue across globe. My clients who deal globally are the poor sufferers. Sometimes, I pity the kind of situation senior bosses get into.

Yesterday, sitting in an American client’s office, we were discussing some of the topics about communication training. “Can I get some examples of their communication gaps?” I asked the person in charge. I must have touched a wrong chord. The music which flew kept grating on my ears.

One of the incidents is narrated as it is. The American client was completely put off with the vendor in dealing. “Buddy I am desperate now and giving up. Go, kiss my A**…” The phone was banged on the other side.

My little lamb, the Indian counterpart burst in to laughter. Then he got up and happily informed his boss about the client being a gay and the reason he wants to deal with him is understood. He gleefully spoke about his charm and how even an American guy, oops gay will succumb to it and feel desperado.

Readers can very well imagine the desperation of senior. I immediately called my colleague to introduce even on phone. Knew it will provide some solace to otherwise hurting and a**…under fire.

I have to wish luck to my colleague now. “May god give him patience and a colder one (you know what) throughout the training.

Do not know how much has been written and said about gender differences. Men do not listen is the most common complaint I hear from womenfolk. I think it is a real bliss. That way they do not hold too much inside them. No grudges either for a long time.

 Women are sensitive. My male friends have fixations on reactive nature women have. Because they do listen and store. It also means they please people with small details.

  I think it is more personal than gender specific. I am very good at reading maps. Almost gave complex to my drive companions in Rajasthan in desert area. I forget dates at the drop of hat and keep getting nasty remarks from friends and family.

 On the other side, my male friends remember dates like their death announcement had happened for that day. Crib on smallest possible stuff and sometimes make it impossible to relate to. Some of them are alive because I was afraid of  fourteen long years of imprisonment.

 So, where is the key to be happy? The mutual respect and care of course plays a pivotal role but what makes it worth a million bucks is the understanding that every individual has a personal trait.

 Irrespective of gender, there is a dormant man in every woman and every man has a soft, sensitive woman hidden in him.  I can not shed a tear come what may but have seen strongest of men crying and envied them for this strength.

It is right partnership of any form between two genders that brings out the best creations.The most beautiful connections understand the other person the way one wants to be and give space to blossom a barren land to convert in to flowers ladden garden.

  Love is looking in the same direction, not at each other. Not always atleast.

My actual plan never included this lovely city until I met a handsome swiss bloke  Arnie Schiffer on trainstation of the atrepaltz in Zurich. He offered me to show around this city he belonged to and I jumped . We met on a lazy sunday morning and boarded train to Winterthur.

 The cultural city of Winterthur in addition to several theatres and the biggest event venue of Switzerland is also home to the Swiss cabaret and comedy centre. The friendly old town with its many street cafes is perfect for strolling and shopping.

In spite of its industrial tradition Winterthur is also a ‘garden city’ with a conspicuously large number of parks and gardens. There is even a city tour dedicated to “Villas and Gardens”. In the charming area surrounding Winterthur, in the forests, wine-growing areas.

 Switzerland’s sixth-biggest city boasts art collections of world known artists.  Museums and monuments, a lively old town, an active music and comedy scene, parks and public gardens give Winterthur feel of a big city and charm of a old country town.

 The Oskar Reinhart Collection “Am Römerholz” is one of the most impressive museums in Winterthur. It is among the most important private collections of the 20th century and includes about 200 works of European art from the 14th to the early 20th century. The focus is on 19th century French painting, in particular on paintings by the French impressionists and their precursors.
 
Winterthur owes its cultural wealth to rich patrons from the days it was an important industrial centre: with the onset of the industrialisation in the 19th century the city became  an important economic centre with  motor, locomotive and textile factories.

My funniest sites were two in this city. One was the name of the pub and the other I will write tomorrow. 

Oh Ganesha..forgive them.They dont know know what they did.

Of being an Indian is hurt many times. I consider myself a hardcore traveller.backpacker type classified . More I travel,more embarrassed I become.

Consider this: While conducting a workshop for a leading corporate on Cross culture sensitivity, a man designated General Manager, says loudly,” Why we need to be polite? I am there to buy machines, giving them business. Let them dance on my tunes.”

Why can’t you be polite to a vendor? My question is not answered. As Indian, I would look at it as buying power decides who rules but is it necesaary to show crassly?

Why would not my national pride get hurt when I board a flight from London and British airways ensures that ,the exit from where flight departs for India has more number of staff deployed, while planning my Austria trip I saw do’s and don’ts of Austria. For Indians the norms are behaving on stair cases, be not too loud at public place, dress smart at music do’s. I am ashamed to see the way we are measured.

And please , those who believe ,our country has tought too many things to west,let me clarify.Golden past and tarnished image of present are two different things.

I heard that before but understood only when I started my traveling around globe. The cultural sensitivity is so crucial and yet so neglected. Protocols have their history originating from tribes and kingdoms of centuries. Amassed information is available on various countries and their expected behavioral pattern.

But who can get to history of a country to understand what may offend a native Australian who till now was thankfully munching the chips given by my fellow Indian friend. “What did I say”. Rushir asked me aghast after getting a snide remark from an Australian. I explained him, Australia has been ruled by British and they do not feel good about hearing their English ancestry.

Sadhna made another mistake at once. She just hugged the handsome Aussie bloke she had met in a party a while ago. The gentle man was visibly uncomfortable. I gave a stern look to her. I know that for her it was very normal thing, coming from media world of Mumbai and born and brought up in Paris. Aussies prefer a arm length distance in public places. It is not customary to hug everyone while parting if you have not known the person well.

The similar experience was of Sanjay. A savvy executive for whom international traveling has begun now and becoming a part of his career.  His first travel to Brazil was funny to others and embarrassing at times to him.

He greeted the officer at the pick up point in Spanish. The guy looked perplexed. Sanjay till then was not aware that the official language of country is Portuguese.

Parties left him high and dry. Not that sanjay does not drink; he had no idea about Soccer. Soccer is to Brazil what cricket is to India. In many South American countries, socializing is part of business negotiations and it is important to know art of conversation and common topics.

One of the safest topics is weather to begin with but it should not be made a long comparative study of countries. It is a good idea to a bit of study about what is accepted in the country you are traveling.

England for that matter differs considerably. The British formality demands reserved and understated behavior. If you are in London, the social climate is cool and one needs to get used to it. Ireland or Welsh as well as Scots are comparatively less formal and do not like to hear the word British associated with them. The Scottish pound is different and you should not be surprised if your friendly black cab driver refuses to take that pound. Go to the Bank instead.

Talking loudly is no no in almost every part of world but England it is rude.

Last but not the least, an Indian friend of mine got into a shock when she went to an English wedding. After picking up a drink from the bar counter, she was asked to pay. That night when she discussed it with me, I asked her to read the invitation. ‘Does it read drinks on house’, I asked. It did not. So it meant you could have dinner with them but drinks were not part of menu.

“How different are the customs”..She said. I smiled back to her

’’That’s what makes the world so beautiful and evokes the wanderlust. Who would like to see mirror image of their own country?

Just that it pays to be wise and know a bit more. Makes life easy while on wheels.